Western Africa

The Gambia hosts technical workshop on National AfCFTA Implementation Strategy

18-19 December 2019 (Banjul, The Gambia) - The government of The Gambia, in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) are holding a technical workshop on the Gambia’s national AfCFTA implementation strategy. Experts from the public and private sector, representing government, civil society, young people, women and academia met in Gambia’s capital to discuss Gambia’s national strategy, which focuses on “measures that support key productive sectors of the economy, enhance capability for increased market access, address trade facilitation issues and enhance consumer protection and welfare”  says Mundunge Ghitu, Economic Affairs Officer at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). Read More.

Key players in Guinea's economy review their country's AfCFTA National Strategy

18 December 2019 (Conakry, Guinea) - Guinea examined its National Strategy for the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) during a validation workshop organised by the Ministry of Commerce of Guinea in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the International Trade Centre and the African Union Commission. Read More.

Watch the discussions on video, here.

AfCFTA forum identifies key challenges Nigeria should tackle ahead of ratification & implementation

6 December 2019 (Lagos, Nigeria) Nigeria’s national African Continental Free Trade Area Forum identified key issues that need to be addressed at government and business levels ahead of AfCFTA implementation in July 2020 to ensure the country realizes benefits of the historic agreement.The Forum, which brought together representatives of the private sector, key government institutions and experts, highlighted among other things the need for the country to conduct a gap analysis on the readiness of the State party to the AfCFTA for a successful implementation of the agreement. Read More.

Also see related content:

• Complimentary policies needed to position Nigeria’s private sector for AfCFTA gains
• Supporting policies and infrastructure crucial for effective implementation of AfCFTA
• Nigeria determined to fully implement AfCFTA terms and commitments, Industry Minister
• AfCFTA under spotlight as Nigeria hosts national forum on historic agreement

Côte d'Ivoire moves towards the validation of its National Strategy to implement the AfCFTA

4-5 December 2019 (Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire) - The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the Government of Cote d‘Ivoire organized a workshop to validate their National Strategy and set up the guidance mechanism of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for the country. The workshop is part of a technical assistance project aiming at deepening trade integration through effective AfCFTA implementation led by ECA in collaboration with AUC and ITC among others, and financially supported by the European Union. Read More.

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Cameroon readies strategy for partaking in Africa's common market

29 November 2019 (Yaounde, Cameroon) - Cameroon’s first five-year strategy on which to anchor its gainful participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), expected to go fully operational by 1 July 2020 when borders will actually open up, was finalised. This is in the wake of an intense reviewing process of a preliminary draft strategy tabled by the country's Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development and that of Trade with the technical support of experts of the UN Economic Commission for Africa's (ECA'S) African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) and Subregional Office for Central Africa. The exercise benefitted from the financial support of the European Union (EU).Read More.  Also see related content:

• Towards Cameroon’s final sprint into Africa’s free trade area
• Cameroon assures ECA it will ratify Africa’s Free Trade Area Agreement
• Cameroon lays the groundwork for implementing the AfCFTA
• Cameroon’s critical role in implementing Africa’s free trade area, rebooted

Togo sets seven priorities for implementing the AfCFTA

 20 October 2019 (Lomé, Togo) -  Togo is actively working towards strengthening its institutional mechanisms to ensure a successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), as outlined in its national AfCFTA implementation strategy. The strategy was presented for discussion and validation on 17 and 18 October in Lomé to public and private sector representatives. The validation workshop was part of a broader awareness raising program, which included consultations on the AfCFTA initiated by the Togolese government with the support of the ECA and the African Union. It provided an opportunity for approximately 100 key economic actors to discuss the actions to be taken to ensure Togo benefits from intra-African trade. It also shed light on issues in priority sectors for the Togolese economy, as well as ways to promote the development of regional value chains. Read More

Also see related content:

• Togo’s AfCFTA implementation strategy shows how it will make the most out of the AfCFTA
• Togo: Validation seminar for the AfCFTA national strategy

Stakeholders discuss benefits of the AfCFTA for Ghana

19 August 2019 (Accra, Ghana) The Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and, in partnership with the Economic Commission for Africa and the African Union Commission (AUC), organized a High-Level Conference on AfCFTA from 19-21 August 2019, at the Accra International Conference Centre, Accra, Ghana focusing on Harnessing the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for a Ghana beyond Aid.

The National Conference brought together key stakeholders in Ghana to discuss national strategies and programme interventions to harness the benefits of the AfCFTA. The President of the Republic of Ghana also used this opportunity to articulate his vision for the AfCFTA for a Ghana Beyond Aid. Participants will include Senior Policy Makers, Parliamentarians, the Business Community, Academia, Representatives of Civil Society Organizations, Development Parties and the Media. Read More.

 ECA supports Chad to flesh-out AfCFTA strategy

25 June 2019 (Mara, Chad) - A retreat to size up the stakes of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for the Republic of Chad and lay the foundation for the country’s strategy to leverage it, took place in Mara, Chad, at the weekend, with experts from the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) allaying fears around the county’s participation in the continental common market. At the retreat, co-organized by Chad’s National AfCFTA Negotiation Committee and ECA’s Sub-regional Office for Central Africa, bringing together State officials and members of the private sector, the main worries raised were Chad’s readiness to compete with Africa’s industrial giants and the fate of customs revenue for the country. Read More

Dakar Forum spotlights private sector as crucial for AfCFTA

24 June 2019 (Dakar, Senegal) - A two-day Regional Trade forum to examine the tangible implications of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for West and Central Africa kicked off on Monday 24 June in Dakar, Senegal, under the of President Macky Sall. In his remarks to officially open the forum, President Sall reaffirmed his commitment “to support the Senegalese private sector in the quest for new areas of business opportunities” and urged the sector to “take ownership of all components of the AfCFTA.” He cautioned that Africans will not reap the benefits of the AfCFTA without building regional or subregional champions, stating “The quality of our industry is such that if we want the AfCFTA to fully benefit Africa, we need to build these African champions. In that context, SMEs will receive special attention” Read More

Also see related content: Senegal prepares to host Regional Forum on the African Continental Free Trade Area

ECA and ITC co-organise Private Sector Workshop on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in Gambia

3 June 2019 (Banjul, The Gambia) - The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC) co-organised a Gambian Private Sector Workshop on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) from 29-30 May 2019 in Banjul, The Gambia. The Gambia was the 22nd nation (the minimum threshold needed for the Agreement to enter into force) to ratify the AfCFTA and deposit its instruments of ratification with the AU Commission Chairperson. As a result, the AfCFTA entered into force on 30 May 2019. The AfCFTA means expanded market access, lower transaction costs and economies of scale. Additionally, there are opportunities to increase access to cheaper raw materials and intermediate inputs and improve conditions for integration in regional and global value chains. “This agreement could be a game changer for The Gambia, and the private sector need to be ready to seize induced opportunities” said Mr. Raimund Moser, Programme Development Adviser, International Trade Centre. Read More